About Lubna Gem Arielle

I am the author of the Butterfly Stories, an ongoing series of stories that began years ago after a night out eating mussels, thinking how the iridescent shells reminded me of butterflies. A few weeks later, I woke up in the middle of the night and wrote “Anya and the Purple Butterfly”

I also wanted to illustrate the story, looked for an illustration class and ended up finding an “Access into Art” course and then studying Fine Art at Central Saint Martins. “Anya” went into a state of stasis as I redesigned my life pedaling on a tightrope between duty and desire.

A few years ago, I picked up “Anya” and started using the story in workshops with dance and art activities. One year I volunteered to wear the cat suit to support my local animal shelter, the Mayhew Animal Home. Someone had beat me to it, so I offered to tell stories and wrote “Martha and the Pink Butterfly.” I later realised that I’d had a lucky escape. Most recently, I wrote “Rai and the Red Butterfly” for a celebration of Bangladeshi Independence day at Rich Mix.

As an artist, writer and performer and a former intellectual property and commercial lawyer, I have developed a varied portfolio.

Interviews

Freelancing Matters

Catching Fireworks